My buddy, Carla Hegeman Crim (aka The Scientific Seamstress), has just published her new book, SEWN HATS! It’s an awesome book which contains 35 different hat sewing patterns by 29 different sewing superstars.
For some reason, Carla asked me to contribute my Downtown Hat pattern…go figure. It might have been, because Carla and I became fast friends as we are both pattern snobs. She understands there is more to drawing a sewing pattern than cutesy designs. It’s about MATH and SCIENCE. You can have an adorable design, but if you don’t use the skills you learned in school, it doesn’t work. Pattern pieces won’t fit together properly.
photo by EMA Photography
Then you have the issue of grading (increasing/decreasing size). You just can’t enlarge a pattern to make the next size. This is especially true in children’s sizes. And Carla has gotten it all right. There’s a reason they call her, “The Scientific Seamstress.”
No patterns are included in the book. Nope. Instead you download them from the internet as many times and as often as you want!!! How cool is that?! I wish all book publishers did this.
My Downtown Hat can be found on page 129. Although it was originally created for boys, there’s no reason you can’t make it for girls. There are so many ways you can embellish the Downtown Hat. What about some leather trim with grommets?
Or perhaps some vintage velvet ribbon and an embroidered flower or a silk spider web rose? (My tutorial is also included in the book.)
Or even some sequin trim.
You could simply add a sparkling rhinestone brooch or pin if you’re lazy. The possibilities are endless!
Get your book on Amazon. Better yet, I’m giving away a copy of the book, so just post a comment here!
Check out the Sewn Hats Blog Tour for more chances to win a copy of the book:
9/4 – Scientific Seamstress
9/5 – ModKid Boutique
9/6 – French General
9/10 – Pink Chalk Studio
9/11 – Lulu Bliss
9/12 – The Domestic Diva’s Disasters
9/13 – Green Bee Patterns
9/14 – Goosie Girl Boutique
9/17 – Melissa Lilac Lane
9/19 – One Girl Circus
9/20 – Tie Dyed Diva Designs
9/21 – Figgy’s Patterns
9/25 – Craftiness is not Optional
9/26 – Bari J.
9/27 – Confessions of a Craft Addict
9/28 – Sis Boom
10/1 – Sew Mama Sew
10/2 – Aesthetic Nest
10/3 – Blue Nickel Studios
10/4 – Betz White
10/8 – Yummy Goods
10/10- Wiley Craft
P.S. – I finally got to meet Clara this Summer at my big BBQ in NYC. And she just informed me she’s moving to NY soon!!! We are already planning our fabric shopping trips in the NYC Garment District!
THE DOMESTIC DIVA'S DISASTERS™ 